Wave and current motor.



C. G. ROEHR.

PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

WAVE AND CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 11.26.1907.

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WAVE AND CURRENT MOTOR. unxonxox num :un s, no1

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)nab/m l /J @aag 889 ,153. W'AVE AND CURRENT MOTOR.

` '--CHARLEs G. ROEHR, Chicago, Ill. Filed July 5, 1907. Serial NO. 382,195.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, .CHARLES G. ROEHR., a

' the line 10-10 on Fig. 9.

prima@ ed @Qa- @pg a ence being had to the accinnpimying ([mwings, forming a part thereof,

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus I'or utilizing undulations and back and forth currents of a body or stream 0f water as a motive power either for operating stationary |)ow-(nauwnsmitting apparatus or causing propulsion of a boat on the surface of the undulating body of water,

It consists of the devices and features of construction and their various combinations which are described and shown as indicated in the claims.

.In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a sidel elevation of a structure embodying this invention as applied to a stationary power-developing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 onFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a yielding stop device for the vanes of the device shown in the preceding igures. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of a boat and propelling device attached thereto embodying this invention. Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5 5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a boat having a modified forni of propelling device embodying this invention attached thereto. Fig. 7 is a section at the line 7-7 on Fig. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the boat shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of a boat having a modified form of' proelling device embodying this invention. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9, section .being made. at

Fig. ll is a section at the line l-l] en Fig. 7 on a larger scale. Fig. 12 is a detail section at the line 12-12 on Fig. ll on n still larger scale.

This invention will iirst be described as applied for the purpose. of developing power in a Stationary power plantsuch application being `shown in Figs. l, 2- and 3. ln these figures, l represents the trame of an anchored raft or an)Y [loaling lstructure, 2, 2 be.- ing buoyant chambers for floating the same.

Chains, 3, 3, are designed to indicate the fact that it is anchored or made tast as against, horizontal disl'ilacement, or free t0 rise and fall with surface undulations` of the body ol' water on to which it is located. Bearings, 4, 4, in vertical linc with each other, one. above and one below the rait, are made rigid therewith, and in them there is jonrnaled the, Vertical shaft, 5, having at the upper end a power-transmitting wheel, (i, which 1s con- Ventionally represented as a gear, but which may be in any form of power-transmitting device, which may also serve as a stop for the I shaft. against downward movement, a coperating stop, 7, in the form of a collar upon the shaft, 5, being provided below the lower bearing, 4. The shaft, 5, may be of any length, according to the depth and other conditions ofthe body of water on which the raft is located, the principal of operation of SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS-MAY 26, 1908.

par Z the device requiring, for the greatest efficiency, that the shaft should beong enough to carry the power-developing device hereinafter described, which is at the lower end of the shaft at a depth in the water substantially below the surface undulations by which the raft is alternately lifted and depressed. On the lower end of the shaft (the shaft being extended only enough beyond it to al'l'ord bracing), there is mounted a spider or skeleton wheel, S, having radial spokes or arms, t). The structure of the wheel, as illustrated, comprises an encompassing band or rim, 1t), connecting the spokes for bracing them in horizontal plane and oblique braces, 1 extemling from four points on the rim,- that is, at the end of four of the spokes,- upward and downward for connection with the shaft at a distance from the plane of the spokes or radial arms so as to render the entire. wheel structure as rigid as possible, both as against distortion which might deflect the spokes out of their proper horizontal plane, and also as against any force tending to deflect them from their respective radial positions in that plane. On each of the spokes or radial arms, 9, there is pivotally mounted a vane, 12, which is free to swing from a position depending obliquely downward from the horizontal plane of the spokes to a position extending obliquely upward from said lane, the former position being shown in fu l line and the latter in dotted line in Fig. 1. The provision for stopping the vanes at these oblique positions is preferably yielding, so as to avoid arresting the vanes too abruptly in their swing from one position to the other. convenient form of such yielding stop consisting in a spring, 13, coiled about the. radial arm or spoke engaged at one end on one side and at the other ond on the other side of the pivot eye, 14, of the vane, the spring being secured to the rod at the yielding point of its length, as by a clamp, 15. It will be seen that the swinging of the vane in one direction brings into act-ion one-half of the spring for yieldingly stopping the vane, and its swinging in the other direction brings into similar action the other half of the spring for stopping it in the opposite direction.

\Vhen this device is located upon a body of water which is in the condition of surface undulation, the raft being alternately lifted and depressed in the water causes the vaned wheel at the lower end of the shaft, 5, to be thrust axially alternately in opposite directions through a body of water which does not partake of the undulatory movement to the full extent of the surface undulations, the maximum eiect being obtained when the vaned wheel is entirely below t-he range of the surface undulations;-that is to say, is in still water notwithstanding the undulations of the surface immediately above it.

' Under these conditions, the downward thrust of the shaft through the still water causes the vanes to assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, presenting their under surface oblique to the direction of thrust and causing the rotation of the wheel and shaft in one direction, and the upward pull of the shaft immediately following reversing the position of the vanes presents their opposite face to the water with the effect of continuing the rotation in the same direction. Thus the alternate up and down movements of the float resulting in the alternately opposite thrust of the wheel axially through the water maintain the continuous rotary motion of the wheel andshaft and the power-transmitting wheel, 6, at the upper end of the latter from which power may be taken and conducted by any means to any distance; and it will be obvious that if the float were not anchored but were in fact a vessel free to move and adapted for movement over the surface of the water, power might be taken from the wheel, 6, for operating any suitable propelling motor on the boat.

In subsequent figures, I have shown, however, other means for a plying the principle to vessel propulsion. fh Figs. at and 5 this means consists of a frame represented by the suspending rods, 16, and braces, 17, projecting rigidly downward from a boat, 1S, and carrying at the lower end, in the still water below the undulatory surface, an oblong reetangular frame, 19, corresponding in width and length to any convenient portion of the boats dimensions, said frame having pivoted in it, transversely to the length of the boat, a multiplicity of oscillatory vanes or blades, 20, which are free to swing from oblique position trending downward to an oblique position trending upward to their respective pivotal supports, 21, on the frame, the stop device for limiting-their movement between these oppositely oblique positions being of the same character as that shown in the )receding figures, and illustrated in detail in Fig. 3 already described; that is, comprising a spring, 13, fastened in the middle to the pivot rod, '21, and engaging at the ends the pivot eyes, 20a, of the vane. The operation of this structure will be obvious from the foregoing description; the rise and fall of the boat under the undulatory action of the surface of the water will swing the vanes alternately to their opposite oblique positions, forcing them vthrough the water after they reach their stops and causing the boat to be actuated by both the upward and downward movement forwardly in direction of convergence of the two positions of the vanes.

The modification of the structure last described may be made to adapt it to a different situation, or particularly to adapt it to be steered and reversed by the same progem page 5 SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS-MAY 26, 1908.

pelling means. Such modification. is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and S. In this form the vertical frame, 25, has pivoted in it, one above another, any convenient number of vanes, 20, on pivot rods, 21, stopped by springs, 13, in the manner already described, their range of swinging movement being from a position trending obliquely downward to a position trending obliquely upward from their pivot rods, but always in the same side thereof, the change being caused, as in the former preceding structures, by the action of the water upon them when the vertical movement of the frame is reversed in the undulation of the boat, 1S, by which the device is carried. Preferably, two such devices are mounted on the boat one near each end by means of a hollow stein, 26, journaled in a downwardly projecting bearing frame, 27, which is made rigid with the bottom of the boat and extends up therethrough so that the hollow shaft, 26, may extend up into the boat and be provided therein with means for turning it in its bearings to cause the motor device consisting of the suspended frame and its vanos to face any desired direction, for it will be understood that said suspended devices will cause the boat to be propelled in the direction of convergence of the two positions of the vanes, as in case of the other devices above described. As a convenient means of controllingr this form of device for steering and reversing, gears, 2S, may he secured to the shafts, 26, above their bearings in the bearing tubes, 27, said gears being connected by a rack bar, 30, which engages said gears at opposite sides of their respective shafts. Means,-as alever, 310,- being provided for sliding the rack bar, the operator is enabled to turn both shafts, 26, at the same time in opposite directions. By swinging them both through 180 degrees, the direction of propulsion of the boat will be reversed, and in the meantime, as during the turning, the two devices operating to pull the respective ends of the boats in opposite direct-ion merely tend to swing it somewhat about the vertical pivot midway between the ends; and by turning the two devices each ninety degrees in opposite directions the boat may be turned around in this manner instead of being backed up for reversing the direction of propulsion. It will be understood that if the operating devices-the gears, 28, and the rack bar, StL-are located near the bottom of the boat as shown, the shafts, 26, will require their bearings in the bearing tubes, 27, to be made water-tight. Such bearings are not shown, any convenient means for making them water-tight being obviously applicable; and, in fact, in the long-sleeved bearing, such as illustrated, the leakage may, in many instances, be negligible.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a further modiiication of the device as adapted for vessel propulsion and steering. In this form, a frame, 31, has pivoted to it in the manner already described a plurality of vanes, 20, on rods, 2l, provided with stop springs, 1.3, by which the vanes are yieldingly stopped at the .limits of their swing, which is from a position extending obliquely in one direction to a position oblique in the other direction oil' from one side of the frame, 3]. The frame, 31, is pivoted upon a cross arm, 32, of a vertical stem, 33, which is mounted for turning in a sleeve, 34, secured to the bottom of the boat and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom to afl'ord a long guide bearing for the stem and to bring the upper end of said bearing as near as possible to the top ol' the boat. The operative position of the frame, 3l, is that shown in Fig. 9; that is to say, vertical with the vanes projecting ofi' therefrom in the direction rearward with rcspect to the desired direction of propulsion of the boat. It will be seen that by swinging the frame, 3l about its pivotal support,- the cross rod, 32,-to horizontal position the vanes will be made to depend from their pivot rods, 21, midway between the stops, and an upward movement of the device caused by the surface undulation of the water will have no tendency to swing them in either direction to the stops, and the downward thrust of t-he device will swing them indifferently in either direction, and with the result that some will go in one direction and somo in the other, and thus counteract each other as to any propulsion which might otherwise result. For swinging the frame from vertical or operative position to horizontal or inoperative position it may be provided with an arm, 3G, projecting oil obliquely from its upper end, connected by a link. 37, with an o porating rod, 3S, which extends within the tubular stem, 33, emerging therefronl at the top where it is provided with an operating handle, 39, and a notched edge, 40, which. may be engaged by a latch, 41, for securing it in adjusted position. At its lower end the rod is bent laterally and extends upward through a longitudinal slot, 33, in the tubular stem, b3, in order to be connected with the upper end ol' the link, 37. For changing the direction of action of this-device. either for turning the boat or for reversing it, the stem, 33, is rotatable, as stated, in the bearing, 34, a handle, 42, being provided for that purpose at the upper end of the stem above said bearing. It will be obvious that any desired number of these devices may be mounted on the same boat at different points in its length, and the position at which the one represented in Fig. 9 is shown on the boat is not designed to be significant.

A modification of the device which may be applicable in some of the other forms is shown gsjlSB SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS--MAY 26, 1908.

@es i in Figs. 11 and 12. In this modification a frame, 31X, corresponding to the frame, 31, is mounted rigidly instead of pivotal'ly at the lower end of the stem, 26, and the pivot rods, 21X, corresponding to the rods, 21, of the other forms are mounted for turning in the frame and provided each with a transverse stem, 215', by which they may'be turned ninety degrees.- The rod, 38, in this construction, is then connected by a link, 44, with a connecting "rod, 45, which connects the stems, 215', and by operating the rod 38, by means of its handle, 39, longitudinally the pivot rods, 21x, may be rocked ninety degrees so that the vanos will have their range of oscillation shifted ninety degrees with the same el'l'ect as if the frame had been itself swung through ninety degrees, as in the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In all of the forms of the device applied to vessels for propulsion of the latter, the downwardly extending parts which carry the vanesupporting frames will require bracing. Such bracing may be provided in the structure shown in F ig. 9 in the form of a web, 46, which will operate to some extent as a center board for preventing the later-al tipping of the vessel and preserving its direction of travel. In the form shown in Fig. 4 the vertical sides of the vane-carrying frame, operate with the ell'ect of a center board, and although they are comparatively narrow vertically their distance below the bottom of the vessel give them increased eflect for holding the vessel steady against the tendency to rock or sway transversely; and in the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the tubular bearings, 27, n'iay be connected and braced by a web, 27, which will operate, as shown, as a center board. ln any of the forms in which two independent devices are supported at different points in the length of the vessel, as in the form shown in Fig. 6, either of such devices may be utilized as a means of steering-and not merely of turning around or reversing,- by being made independently operable for changing the direction in which the vanes face.

4l claim:

l. A wave and current motor comprising, in combination with a structure adapted to loat, a vane. support projecting dmvnward from the bottom tluireof; vanes pivotally mounted on such support for oscillation from a position trending obliquely downward to a position trending obliquely upward from their respective pivots, and stops limiting their oscillation.

2. A wave and current motor comprising, in combination with a structure adapted to float, a vane support projecting downward from the bottom thereof, vanes pivotally mounted. on such support for oscillation from a position trending obliquely downward to a position trending obliquely upward from their respective pivots, and yielding stops limiting their oscillation.

'3. In a wave and current motor, in combination with a structure adapted to float, a vane support projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 5 arms projecting ol'll from said rotating support, vanes pivotally mounted on said arms for oscillation up and down from a position trending obliquely downward to aposition trending obliquely upward from their respective pivots, and stops limiting the oscillation of such vanes.

4. In a current and wave motor, in combination with a structure adapted to lioat at the surface ofthe body of water from whose movement power is to be derived, a shaft journaled in such structure and projecting downward therefrom to a point substantially below the region of surface movement of the water; means anchoring said structure for permitting up-and-down movement and preventing movement of travel; radial arms projecting at the lower part ol' said shaft; vanes )ivoted on such arms with freedom for oscillation thereabout from a position trending obliquely downward to a position trending obliquely upward therefrom, stops limiting such oscillation, and means at the upper end of the shaft for transmitting power therefrom.

5. A wave and current motor comprising a vane carrier and vanes pivotally mounted on such carrier for oscillation through an angle of less than 18() degree-s about their pivots, and an element which supports the vane carrier, the latter' being mounted on such support with capacity for movement in a plane which divides said angle of oscillation of the vanes.

6. In a wave and current motor, in combination with a Vvane carrier and vanes pivotally mounted on such carrier for oseillation through an angle of less than 180 degrees about their pivots, an element which supports the vane. carrier, the latter being mounted on such support with a capacity for movement in a plane which divides said angle of oscillation of the vanes, and yielding stops on thel carrier for limiting yieldingly the oscillation oll the vanes about their pivots.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses. at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th. day of June,

CIIARLES G. ROEHR. In the presence of- J. S. ABBOTT, M. GERTRUDE ADY. 

